Birthday Cake Pretzel Loaf (Printable Version)

Sweet loaf with pretzel crunch and birthday cake flair, featuring sprinkles and optional glaze for festive gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
04 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles

→ Pretzel Bath

09 - 1/4 cup baking soda
10 - 4 cups water

→ Topping

11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
12 - 2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles
13 - 1 tablespoon coarse pretzel salt or flaky sea salt

→ Optional Glaze

14 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
15 - 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
16 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, blend the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, instant yeast, and fine sea salt until thoroughly mixed.
02 - Add warm milk, softened unsalted butter, and egg. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
03 - Knead the mixture by hand or with a mixer using the dough hook for 7 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Gently knead in rainbow sprinkles until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
05 - Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
06 - Punch down dough and shape into a loaf. Position seam-side down in a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.
07 - Cover loaf pan and let rise for 30 to 40 minutes until dough is puffy.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. In a saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a simmer and add baking soda carefully.
09 - Lift the loaf gently and dip the top and sides in the baking soda bath for 10 to 15 seconds.
10 - Place loaf back in pan, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with extra rainbow sprinkles and pretzel salt.
11 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until deeply golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
12 - Cool loaf in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
13 - Mix powdered sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over cooled loaf if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Combines sweet and salty flavors for a unique treat
  • Fun, colorful appearance perfect for parties
02 -
  • Check your sprinkles for allergens like soy or tree nuts.
  • This loaf is best enjoyed the day it is baked but leftovers stay soft for up to 2 days at room temperature.
03 -
  • Use pastel or chocolate sprinkles for a different festive touch.
  • Serve slices with whipped cream cheese or buttercream for extra decadence.

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